Few things can put a damper on your productivity like a lousy mood. If you ever find yourself feeling down with a full day's work ahead of you, Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project passes on a tip for getting that anxiety out of the way.

So how do you quickly deal with those bad vibes? Label them and move on:

If you're feeling a negative emotion, you can work to reduce it by labeling it in one or two words. Note, however, that thinking or talking at length about the emotional state tends to intensify it—while simply observing and labeling it helps to quell it.

I do this myself, instinctively. I find myself thinking, "I'm overwhelmed" or "I'm frazzled" or "I'm feeling defensive" - and it's odd how calming it is. Just putting a label on a feeling helps me to master it.

If you take a moment to acknowledge how you're feeling instead of just trying to push through it, you may find it easier to focus and reorient yourself. Give it a try.